Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes (left) commends Stephen Fazekas (second from right) and Anthony Casciano (far right) for providing Kelly Griffin (front center) with emergency medical care on a Frontier Airlines flight. Also pictured are Kelly’s parents, Dan and Elaine, and sister, Danielle. Fazekas and Casciano were returning to Trenton-Mercer Airport from Orlando, Florida, with their families when they stepped forward to aid two fellow passengers.

MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Willmot
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TRENTON - Two travelers who provided assistance during a pair of medical emergencies on a Frontier Airlines flight bound for Trenton-Mercer Airport were honored June 13 by Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The County Executive and Freeholders awarded a joint proclamation recognizing the important and decisive actions taken by Anthony Casciano and Stephen Fazekas, who aided two fellow passengers on a Feb. 19 flight that originated in Orlando, Florida.

“These two individuals deserve our thanks and appreciation for stepping forward and saving the day,” said Hughes. “It’s very fortunate that they were willing and able to help out during an in-flight emergency when no other medical assistance was available.”

About 20 minutes after takeoff, flight attendants began administering aid to a 2-year-old girl who was having a medical emergency. Recognizing the severity of the situation, they requested the assistance of any passengers who possessed medical expertise. Casciano, a New Jersey state trooper, and Fazekas, an emergency medical technician, offered to help. After determining that the unresponsive child was having a seizure, they instructed the crew to have the pilot land the plane as soon as possible so she could be taken to a hospital. As the flight was being rerouted to Jacksonville, Florida, the two men tended to the child and comforted her family.

During the plane’s descent, an adult passenger began having an asthma attack, and Casciano and Fazekas helped flight attendants tend to her while also monitoring the little girl. When the plane landed in Jacksonville, the two men briefed paramedics on what had transpired so they could take over. Both passengers recovered and the little girl, who has since turned 3, and her parents, who live in Hamilton Township, were present June 13 when Casciano and Fazekas were honored. Casciano is a resident of Montgomery Township; Fazekas, who retired last year as Florence Township police chief, lives in Burlington.

In addition to the proclamation, the two good Samaritans each received a monetary gift card provided by Frontier Airlines to put toward their next Frontier flight, and a gift bag provided by Trenton-Mercer Airport.